West Central Florida: Spring is Here! Great Fishing Days Ahead

Capt. Ray Markham covers the fishing forecast from Aripeka to Longboat Key, including Hudson, Anclote Key, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Anna Maria Island and Bradenton. Contact info: RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM; 941-228-3474; www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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March 21-23 Report

Celebrating the first week of Spring might be tough with a cold front and blustery days. Better days are ahead.

Heading into the first quarter of the moon phase, slow tide days will be ahead. Ambush predators like snook, trout, flounder and others will have to work a little harder for food since there won’t be a strong current to flush food to them as easily. Being at the right place at the right time will make the difference between a successful fish-catching day and a lot of casting with few results.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

We have some good weather days predicted for the first part of the week but again; another front may be upon us sometime this week, perhaps on Thursday or Friday that could affect your plans. Cooler temperatures Thursday night through Saturday morning with some breezy conditions beginning on Thursday might help to figure into your plans for the weekend.

Hogfish continue to be the most notable catch near shore and in some cases, offshore as well. Good numbers of hogs continue to be caught from depths ranging from 40 to 80 feet of water. Patience is key with these fish as they seem to sit back and watch other fish chew baits dropped to the bottom until they have had their fill. Then hogfish move in to feed, so if you are getting bit but not by hogfish and you’re dropping live or fresh dead shrimp, have patience. Mangrove snapper will hold up a bit at around 10 to 15 feet above the bottom.

A variety of snappers, a few carbos, scamp, and red grouper have been in most fish boxes coming from 120-plus feet. Almaco jacks, porgies, and triggerfish have also been in the catch. Offshore water temperatures will be cooler than those in nearshore depths. It could contribute to a slower bite right now.

A few reports of some scattered mackerel being caught outside of passes on the outgoing tides and inside on the incoming tides from Sarasota to Bunces Pass were noted, but the nearshore waters only registering about 66-to 67 degrees are still a bit cool for these fish as well as kingfish. Look for the migration of these fish to the south headed our way soon.

INSHORE

It’s been somewhat of a mixed-bag catch this week inshore. Water temperatures have played an important part of the catching equation with low water temps in the mid-60s and the upper-60s for highs in most areas. Shallow areas with dark muddy bottoms have been the first to see temperatures rise. But if you’re fishing anywhere close to the Gulf passes on the incoming tide, water temperatures will be at a low point for the bay. Typically, I have found a slower bite there, however, trout and flounder have been mostly available in these areas. To the north, around Ozona, redfish have been actively feeding along with upper slot trout. Live shrimp have been effective for both. We had consistent action using the DOA Deadly Combo, a clacking cork rig with a DOA Shrimp suspended under about a 2-foot leader.

Snook fishing has been slow in most areas I have fished near the Gulf. With incoming fronts and cooler nights many of these fish have retreated to deeper areas with slower currents.

The redfish bite has been hit-and-miss for many anglers fishing in Sarasota Bay and parts of Tampa Bay. The areas with consistent action for reds have been Cockroach Bay, Terra Ceia Bay, Palm Harbor, Ozona and Anclote Key.

Along the beaches, anglers have been catching whiting in the surf, and silver trout out to depths ranging from 15 to 20 feet of water. Most anglers have been using live shrimp for both. Pompano fishing has slowed down a bit with a few still being caught on DOC’s Goofy Jigs around the Pass-A-Grille Channel and the rock jetties at John’s Pass.

FRESHWATER

Expect a little slower action this weekend with bass. Most of the spawning activity has slowed. There is a variety of panfish that are great fish to target now around the shallows. Many areas are accessible to anglers from the banks of lakes and rivers while fishing with long cane poles or extendible rods like crappie rods. Live crickets, red worms, or grass shrimp are all good natural baits. Use a 4-to 6-pound test mono with a small split shot and a #8 or #10 size hook. I prefer a long-shank hook for ease of hook removal. These fish are ideal for kids to learn to fish. Take a kid fishing. You’ll never regret it. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

IT'S TOURNAMENT TIME

• Chad Day Memorial 7th Annual Fishing Tournament and Charity Event
• April 5-6, 2025
• The 7th Annual Chad Day Memorial Fishing Tournament is a 1-day inshore fishing tournament.  The captain’s meeting starts at 3:00 pm on Saturday, April 5th.  Pictures are to be submitted by 2:00 pm Sunday, April 6th.
• Proceeds benefit the Tidewell Foundation
• $7,000 in prize money
• Entry fee $320 for up to 4 anglers (includes meal)
• For registration & details visit https://chadday.profishingtournaments.com/
• The tournament event will be held out of 7150 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL. 34243
• Boat dock: East at Marker #16
• (941) 228-5012

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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PREVIOUS REPORTS

March 14-16 Report

The full moon this weekend could play some tricks on fish-catching, particularly in the morning if the night’s sky is clear. Fish will feed heavily at night on and around full moons with a bright night sky. Many times, if this is the case, fish will feed later in the afternoons following a bright moon.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Settling seas and lighter winds with a warming trend for the weekend can make for a great time to be heading offshore. Some don’t care to fish around a full moon (on Friday), but others make hay while the sun shines. Picking weather windows sometimes doesn’t give you an option. We may have a chance of passing showers on Sunday, but that’s what foul weather gear is for, as long as it’s not too sporty for your boat or your level of skill as a captain.

The hottest species right now on the nearshore scene and marginal offshore depths continues to be hogfish in the 40-to-70-foot depth range, although red grouper action is a close second just a bit farther out. A plethora of different fish are being caught. Scamp, carbo, red grouper, tripletail, triggerfish, porgies, and a few others were in the catch. Mangrove, yellowtail, vermilion, and even a few mutton snappers have also been in the fish boxes. Gags consistently have been caught and released.

Bluewater action is beginning to heat up with a few blackfin tunas showing up. Wahoos have been reported in the 100-to-120-foot range southwest of Pinellas. The permit should be showing up on the offshore wrecks just about any time now.

Spanish mackerel have been showing up sporadically and will come in waves as they migrate to the north. Watching reports from our southern Action Spotters might give you a clue of when to expect some action. But if you’re on the water, a show of bait schools will be the best signal that it’s ‘on’.

INSHORE

Headed toward this Friday’s full moon, the morning and late afternoon falling tides might see the best action from ambush feeders like snook, trout and perhaps flounder. Redfish have been somewhat scattered except for a few areas on the south shore of Tampa Bay and near Ozona. Some of the largest spotted seatrout continue to be caught up around St. Joseph’s Sound north of Clearwater.

Anclote Key has some deep grass flats producing some big trout on tandem rigged jigs like the DOA Deadly Tandem. Double hook-ups are a definite possibility, making filling a limit quickly. Catch and release fishing for trout can be fun, but because they are fragile, getting into schools of these fish can be harmful to them even if they are released unless barbs on hooks are pinched down or filed off. If fishing barbless, all that’s needed is keeping a tight line and a bent rod on the fish. Light action rods will produce the best results for trout fishing.

Snook fishing has been improving by the day with warmer weather on tap. Water temperatures have been on the rise, and the action has gone up with it. On the warmest parts of the day, the 5MR21 MirrOlure has taken some huge trout. This prop bait excels when the water has a slight chop or a heavy ripple on the surface and in conditions where the water is turbid.

Tripletail action has taken a slight upturn along the beaches and just inside some of the bays where channel markers or crab traps are located. Keep a sharp eye on these spots for signs of these fish lazing near the surface. A well-placed shrimp or soft plastic artificial can get slammed.

The mouth of Tampa Bay has seen schools of Spanish mackerel moving in and out of the bay. Most have been following schools of scaled sardines and threadfins.

On those windy days when hardly any boats leave the dock, we’ve seen sheepshead action turn super hot. Fiddler crabs might be the go-to live bait, but live shrimp can also work for these timid chewers. I’m guessing that this weekend’s full moon will be the final bout of spawning for sheepshead this year. Bridges will hold loads of sheepshead as well as black drum.

A couple of reports of black drum spawning on the Clam Bar south of Pinellas Point were reported in the past week, but nothing like they normally are. I think the masses of fish that we normally see have not yet arrived.

Early season tarpon have shown up in the backcountry waters, working their way out of the creeks and rivers. Most are juveniles but are a blast to catch on fly rods.

FRESHWATER

The last of the spawning crappie might be chewing this weekend as we approach spring. There are still some bass bedding in most areas. Working shorelines with soft plastic worms and creature baits will give you the best opportunity to catch some larger bass. Bluegill and shellcrackers can be caught on red wigglers and crickets. Some folks use grass shrimp if they can get them.

Find a nice sunny day, pack a lunch, and take a kid fishing. I’ll never regret it. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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March 7-9 Fishing Report

Last Friday’s new moon brought some mixed results for inshore anglers. But overall, fishing was good. Water temperatures remained in the mid- to upper-60s. The nearshore scene remained constant with good action.

A mid-week cold front brought rain and breezy conditions. After the frontal passage, cooling temperatures moved in for Thursday, and more of the same should come on Friday, dropping inshore water temperatures. There is a chance of rain again on the weekend with a warming trend into the 70s, so keep your foul weather gear at hand.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Nearshore anglers have found some good action with hogfish in about 60 feet of water. A mix of smaller mangrove snapper, grunts, tripletail, porgies and some smaller red grouper were also caught nearshore.

Captain Morgan’s Fishing Adventures had a great report before the weather moved in this week, catching a good variety of fish. In the catch were a few mutton snapper, a carbo (black) grouper, some nice gags that were released, some very nice scamp grouper, and limits of red grouper. Captain Brian Morgan runs out of Marine Max in St. Petersburg and can be reached for bookings at 813-516-9365 to book your next fish-catching adventure!

Deep-water fishing for pelagic fish has been good when anglers can get out, but the recent weather windows have made it tough to get out between fronts and all the wind. Blackfin tunas, a few wahoo, kingfish and cobia have been caught.

INSHORE

The yo-yo temperatures in area waters have been up and down for the past couple of weeks. The extremes have ranged from the low 60s to low 70s inshore. It’s tough to get on a pattern when temperatures swing that much in a short period of time, but still, trout fishing has been the most reliable. Anglers fishing to the north from Clearwater Harbor to the north end of St. Joseph’s Sound are finding some gator trout. MirrOlure HeavyDines have been constant producers, as have the 17MR MirrOdines and MirrOlure Lil’ Johns. Redfish action has been good around Ozona, Palm Harbor, upper Tampa Bay, Cockroach Bay, and around the Mouth of the Manatee River. Jigs with CAL Shads and DOA Shrimp have been effective for both snook and redfish around the region.

A few pompano have been caught lately on Doc’s Goofy Jigs but fish have scattered since the blow at mid-week, making it tough to get on them consistently.

The ICW from Sarasota to Indian Rocks has been productive for trout. Anglers fishing jerk baits and shad-style bodies on jigheads have been catching good numbers of fish, some taping out over the max slot size.

Areas inside John’s Pass have been productive for spotted seatrout, silver trout and whiting. Anglers reported catches of silver trout in about 20 feet of water outside the pass using live shrimp and jigs.

FRESHWATER

Many lakes and retention ponds are still seeing some bass spawning. Good action in the shallows around the beds for anglers fishing with creature baits like lizards, DOA SnaKoils and 10-inch worms in June bug, purple and black colors. Crappie have about concluded their spawn, but you’ll still find some fish schooling in some of the deeper lakes like Tarpon up in Pinellas and Lake Manatee down in Bradenton. Bluegill will be up next and spawn throughout much of the summer months. Red worms, crickets and grass shrimp are some of the best baits for bluegill, but if you’re a fly angler, tons of action can be had on 3- to 5-weight fly rods using some foam spiders, cricket imitations or worm imitations. It’s a great time to get out and an even better time to take a kid fishing. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Feb. 28-March 2 Report

Friday’s new moon will stir up some tides making for much lower lows and perhaps some higher-than-average tides. Consider wind direction and velocity when heading into shallow backcountry areas if the tide is up when you head in. Getting back out might pose some issues depending on the draft of your vessel.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Breezy conditions and heavy rain at times put a damper on fishing plans for some anglers looking to get offshore at times this week. But Capt. Brian Morgan of Captain Morgan’s Fishing Adventures out of St. Petersburg at Marine Max had some exceptional action well offshore. Black grouper, red grouper and scamp grouper were all caught along with some nice mutton snappers. Despite the sporty weather, anglers stuck it out and managed some fantastic fishing for some big fish.

On some recent trips aboard Capt. Steve Papen’s Fintastic Fishing Charters out of Madeira Beach anglers have been catching some fat mangrove snappers, monster wahoo, hogfish, and assorted grouper. Boats making it out beyond 120 feet have seen good action with blackfin tunas and a few kingfish.

INSHORE

Coming up on this Friday’s new moon, anglers will see fair weather and lighter winds before the weekend is upon us. Warmer weather should make for some productive fishing for snook that have been poking out on the edges of the flats near the mouths of creeks and rivers. Big gator trout ranging from the mid-to-upper-20-inch range have been caught around lower Tampa Bay by anglers fishing MirrOlure MirrOdines and Lil’ John Purple Demon colored jerkbaits.

Redfish have been chewing in and around Cockroach Bay and upper Tampa Bay from Rockey Creek to Safety Harbor on the northern shore. Gold Eppinger Rex Spoons have been productive as have CAL Jigs with Shad tails and DOA Shrimp. Live shrimp fished under popping corks have been catching an assortment of trout, reds, and a few snook around Weedon Island and in Riviera Bay.

Along the Intracoastal Waterway from Indian Rocks to Dunedin, excellent catches of trout and redfish have been reported. Black drum have been caught on the Clam Bar around Pinellas Point and the bridges of Tampa Bay. Trout catches up in the Ozona area to Anclote have been very good with good numbers of over-slot fish being caught along with plenty of reds.

FLY FISHING SCHOOL

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School- March 8, 2025

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, 1249 Stickney Point Rd, Sarasota, FL will hold an Orvis-Endorsed fly-fishing school on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Instructor, Capt. Rick Grassett, will cover basic fly-casting principles, saltwater fly-fishing techniques, fly selection, leader construction and wind casting. The cost for the class, which will run from 8 AM to approximately noon, is $225 per person and includes the use of fly tackle and a workbook. Optional instructional guided fly-fishing trips are also available for an additional fee. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 to make reservations.

FRESHWATER

Crappie action continues as bass spawn in many areas and finish in others. Male bass guarding nests in the shallows around lake perimeters are easy targets for anglers flipping or pitching creature baits like lizards, salamanders, and the DOA SnaKoil. It’s a good time to work the shallows for some big fish. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Feb. 21-23 Report

Weather patterns have taken us and our fisheries on a roller-coaster ride over the past week, taking air temperatures from the 80’s down into the upper 40’s and low 50’s in other portions of the region. Water temperatures in the gulf have ranged from about 63 to 69 degrees and in Tampa Bay from 75 down to 64 degrees. Unstable conditions have kept fish inshore on the move making targeting them more difficult. Fishing should normalize with more stable conditions.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Finding that right weather window for most offshore anglers to get out has been tough lately with incoming cold fronts and windy conditions dictating angler’s fishing options. Most who have been out have opted for a short trip fishing inside state waters for hogfish, red grouper and some mangrove and lane snappers, porgies and white grunts. On the few nice days we have had, fishing beyond the 100-foot mark has seen some banner catches of fish. Reports of pelagics like blackfin tuna, a few cobia and wahoo and even some catches of kingfish were noted. But the big catches have come with some big black grouper; big red grouper were caught between 100 and 120 feet. Gags were caught and released. But some nice scamp grouper were also caught along with a few mutton snapper and some nice mangos.

INSHORE

It’s been a tough week to be consistent with air and water temps up and down and wind churning up the bays. But for those who were persistent, some decent sheepshead were caught, some redfish and good numbers of trout from north Sarasota Bay to Cockroach Bay. On the Pinellas side, some upper-slot trout were caught around Dunedin along the spoil islands and as far north as Anclote Key. Capt. Jimmy Huddleston's charters have seen some great action with snook, trout and redfish. MirrOlure TTR26 slow-sinking lures and 17MR MirrOdines were productive along with Paul Brown Devil blanks rigged on EWG worm hooks in the areas between Dunedin and Anclote Key.

The threat of red tide to the south from south Sarasota to Naples has been bad and, in some cases, high concentrations of the algal bloom has been killing fish. Anglers fishing in nearshore waters out to 3 or 4 miles are reporting floating dead fish. The south wind that blows prior to Wednesday’s front moving south may push some of that red tide bloom northward. Low concentrations of it were reported near the Sunshine Skyway but not concentrated enough at the time to kill fish. This, however, could move fish to other locations in their attempt to avoid the bloom. In short, you might find that they just won’t eat no matter what you throw at them.

Prior to the last cold front, snook began heading out of backwaters in some areas and moved to the mouths of creeks and rivers, but a strong front could push these fish back into deeper waters closer to springs and deep bends in the rivers.

Heavy rains at mid-week could move fish again, so when the weather clears, be prepared to do some looking around to locate concentrations of fish.

In south Pinellas around the Clam Bar in lower Tampa Bay, schools of black drum were reported. The area is one that traditionally will see a spring spawn of black drum concentrating on the flats there. Cut blue crabs and live shrimp are the preferred baits for these fish.

FRESHWATER

By no means are fish done spawning. Bass continue to spawn in many areas of our region. Anglers flipping creature-style baits to bedding fish will have good success. The incoming cold fronts could affect the bite this weekend, but speckled perch continue to do their thing in deeper water depths ranging from 8 to 12 feet of water. Jigging is very popular for crappie, a.k.a. specks, or speckled perch, particularly where anglers either slow-troll or drift to help locate a school. Other anglers prefer to drop Missouri minnows at varying depths on multiple rods. When a consistent bite is noted at one depth, all rigs can be changed to that depth to capitalize on the bite there. Markers dropped overboard to mark areas of schooling specks will allow you to repeat a drift or concentrate on the school to fill a limit if that’s the goal. I like many of the jigs from T.T.I. Blakemore in the Road Runner brand. They produce fish consistently. There are many good brands on the market but these have always produced for me. Get a few and take a kid fishing. They’ll love it. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Feb. 14-16 Report

For all those who love fishing, St. Valentine’s Day is this coming Friday and for the love of fishing, just go! This week’s full moon on Wednesday should make for some great tides for inshore anglers to fish. Light winds and warmer weather might also be on tap until a front makes its way south by Sunday.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Anglers working nearshore waters just off the beaches out to a few miles are finding some nice tripletail from south Pinellas to Sarasota when hitting the stone crab trap floats and lines. One of Capt. Rick Grassett’s anglers bagged a nice tripletail on a shrimp pattern fly this week while fishing in Sarasota. Capt. Scott Moore found several nice trips on crab traps between 3 and 4 miles west of Bradenton Beach. Some big black grouper have been caught onboard Capt. Brian Morgan’s charters recently, along with red grouper, and some scamp grouper, hogfish, and a variety of snappers.

Party boats out of Hubbard’s Marina report good action with lane snapper in depths ranging from 50 to 80 feet of water. Hogfish have been chewing in the 40-foot mark. Mangrove snapper in nearshore waters have been hit-or-miss along with red grouper in nearshore depths inside 100-foot depths.

INSHORE

Action inshore has been fairly consistent for most anglers in the West Central Region. Sarasota anglers have had decent catches of some spotted seatrout on jigs and live shrimp under popping corks. Jerk baits like the CAL 5.5 Jerk Bait rigged on an Owner 3/0 live bait hook have attracted some over-slot trout in areas from Hernando Beach south to Anclote Key. MirrOlure 17MR MirrOdines have been a go-to lure for St. Pete. Anglers fishing around Boca Ciega Bay and the Fort DeSoto area.

Old Tampa Bay has been giving up some nice redfish and snook on live bait as well as gold Eppinger Rex Spoons and MirrOdines. On the warmest days, topwater MirrOlure Top Dogs and Duke Dogs have seen some trout action with mid-20-inch fish around Pinellas Point and on the Clam Bar.

On the eastern shores of Tampa Bay, the Ruskin area around the Little Manatee River is producing good catches of redfish and a few snook. Anglers are reporting seeing some pilchards showing up around the range markers and areas at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Tripletail have been seen and a few caught around these channel and range markers as well as around stone crab trap floats.

FRESHWATER

Residential ponds have been productive with bass action taking the limelight. Capt. Bucky Goldman, of West Chase caught a bedding bass on a Chatterbait pushing the scale at about 10 pounds this week while fishing neighborhood lakes. Most areas are seeing some bedding bass. Soft plastic creature baits are deadly on the beds where male bass are guarding the nests. These beds will be in the shallows close to shorelines and are accessible to anglers on foot. You might find this action in your neighborhood ponds and lakes. ‘Til then, I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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PREVIOUS REPORTS

Feb. 7-9 Report

What a difference a week or so makes in fishing. It’s all about the weather and temperatures being conducive to a good bite, and this past week, anglers enjoyed some terrific weather and fishing. Air temperatures are expected to rise into the 80s next week. Here’s hoping we don’t go from winter to summer in a couple of weeks.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Some terrific warm weather and light breezes allowed anglers to get offshore without getting beat up this week. We may be in for more of the same weather next week.

A variety of fish are being caught in nearshore and offshore waters. In depths ranging from 40 to 100 feet, good action continues for hogfish, porgies and some mangrove snapper, as well as some vermilion, a few muttons and lane snappers. Red grouper action has been spotty at those depths, but beyond there, from about 120 feet and deeper, some big red groupers are being caught. Scamp and carbos have also been caught. Bluewater action has also seen some decent catches of blackfin tuna.

Next Wednesday’s full moon will crank up the tides inshore and, to a degree, offshore, perhaps making anchoring on spots offshore a bit tricky. Fishing during solunar periods can be productive.

Cobia have been in the catch just off Sarasota's artificial reefs. Some of the shallow reefs are producing a few flounder, some big sheepshead, grunts, a few undersized red grouper and an assortment of snappers.

INSHORE

Some excellent catch reports were noted over the past week for inshore anglers up and down the coast, particularly in the Sarasota Bay area and areas from Ozona to Anclote Key. Good numbers of bigger trout have been caught to 26 inches. While anglers may keep one trout over the upper slot at 19 inches, these fish, especially those at 24-plus inches, are breeders and would be best released to ensure the genetics of that fish continue to flourish. Jerkbaits like the CAL 5.5 rigged on a 3/0 Owner live bait hook twitched just below the surface have received some explosive strikes from impressive fish. Anglers tossing topwaters are having a field day with big trout in nearly all areas of the region. MirrOlure Duke Dogs and Top Dogs are crushing fish in 3 to 5 feet of water in Sarasota Bay, as is the Purple Demon-colored MirrOlure Lil’ John rigged on a ¼-ounce jig head. Captains Scott and Justin Moore of Holmes Beach report excellent catches of big trout on the Lil’ John. Redfish are hammering the same lure in backcountry areas. The early arrival of schools of baitfish showing up in numerous areas despite the cooler water temperatures will trigger feeding on warm days. Glass minnows and fry-sized whitebait have been noted from Sarasota to Tampa Bay.

You might see the sheepshead bite more aggressively next week around the full moon as they spawn. Live shrimp or fiddler crabs might be the baits of choice for them.

Last weekend, the Old Salt Fishing Foundation ran the 35th Annual Johnny Kellar Inshore Tournament out of the Bay Pines Marina. Approximately 200 anglers vied for cash prizes for six different species—sheepshead, flounder, black drum, redfish, spotted sea trout and snook with the top three fish in each category winning prize money. The first-place sheepshead was caught by Dustin Thompson weighing 5.08 pounds. The top black drum weighed in at 5.95 pounds and was caught by Henry Franks. In the redfish category, Jaye Ynocencio’s red measured 33.25 inches. James Hingley edged out second-place trout caught by Eric Bachnik owner of L & S Bait Company (MirrOlure), by ¾ of an inch, measuring 25 inches. The top snook measured 35 inches and was caught by Chris Olt. There were NO flounder weighed in. A Youth Division gave kids a shot at some winnings as well with Dilan Shaw weighing a 3.95-pound sheepshead. Alex Wayndt brought a 2.98-pound black drum to the scale for the win. Madison Dawson caught a 21-inch red to win the redfish division. Sadie McFarlin measured a trout of 22.75 inches for the trout division win. With a whopper of a snook measuring 36.75 inches, Dallas Thompson ran away with the Youth Division snook category and the largest snook in the tournament. The tournament also celebrates the angler and youth angler with the most species caught. Chris Olt turned in five species, and youth angler Grant Cable turned in four species for a super successful tournament overall. Snook, trout and redfish were all photo-release, and black drum, flounder and sheepshead were weighed.

Next Wednesday’s full moon should bring some great action on the days before and perhaps just after. Cloudless nights around the full moon can deter fish from feeding as heavily, making the morning bite on fire as the tide bottoms out.

FRESHWATER

Crappie and bass fishing should continue to be hot for the next couple of months. Bluegill will be heading to spawn soon, so bring tackle for all unless you just want to target one species. Still, you may end up with multiple species of fish.

Lakes in Pinellas like Seminole and Tarpon have both bluegill and bass. Tarpon also has a decent population of specks. Lake Manatee in Bradenton offers some excellent fishing for specks as well as bass and freshwater catfish.

Residential lakes and ponds in nearly all counties of our region have bluegill and bass with some of the deeper lakes holding speckled perch. Find one near you and take a kid fishing. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Jan. 31-Feb. 2 Report

West Central anglers have had a major reprieve in the weather and incoming cold fronts and a string of good weather days should continue throughout the weekend. If you have any sick days at work, now’s the time to start wheezing.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Flat calm seas after the lifting fog made for some phenomenal fishing for the anglers fishing with Capt. Brian Morgan of Captain Morgan’s Fishing Adventures. Capt. Brian said, “We put the smackdown on the big Muttons today. We ended up with 10 total, and caught another nice Carbo, Scamp, and RG's! It was a stellar day with a stellar crew, and the weather was flat and Foggy!! Call me at 813-516-9365 to book your adventure of a lifetime!!” I’ve been getting this kind of report much of the week. It’s been foggy nearly every morning, and a good GPS and plotter are musts for navigating in these conditions. A good compass is also an extremely handy tool for maintaining a steady course. Even in small bays, it’s easy to get turned around in foggy weather.

Another sunny and warm weekend is on the way and fish will chew. Whether it’s nearshore areas for hogfish, grunts, porgies and snapper or deepwater red grouper, cobia, snappers and more, hit the water for some great action, calm seas and bent rods.

INSHORE

With air temperatures hitting the 70s this week, water temperatures rebounded from the near 50 degrees of last week to the low-to mid-60s in many areas of the region, triggering a fantastic bite for trout, redfish, and in some areas, snook. Dock lights and bridge fenders attracted good numbers of snook to feed on baitfish that were attracted to the lights down in Sarasota Bay. Deeper grass flats just inside New Pass produced some nice trout on CAL Jigs with Shad tails for some and live shrimp under popping corks for others. Larger fish were reported in the low-to-mid 20-inch class. Redfish were caught on Long Bar on gold spoons and freelined live shrimp. Hard bottom areas in lower Tampa Bay produced some black seabass and solid trout on DOA Shrimp and TTR26 MirrOlures in depths ranging from 14 to 21 feet of water. Areas in Terra Ceia saw some snook caught on DOA Shrimp in the glow color and redfish caught around oyster bars on MirrOlure Lil’ Johns.

Boca Ciega Bay saw some action this week near Bay Pines for trout and redfish with a few scattered pompano caught near John’s Pass. Trout were active around dock lights in the area. Fly anglers were catching trout on glass minnow patterns while fishing the dock lights at night in the area. Residential canals were holding snook. Cockroach Bay has been a hot spot for trout, snook, and reds this past week with sheepshead being the big standout for anglers using live fiddler crabs around oyster bars. Redfish were also caught on fiddlers and live shrimp here.

Some of the largest trout of the season were caught to the north around Ozona and the Palm Harbor area. Captain Jim Huddleston’s clients got on some big trout and some nice slot redfish in the area.

Anglers working the pilings around Clearwater Pass and the Dunedin Causeway hammered some fat sheepshead on small live shrimp and on barnacles threaded on a hook.

FRESHWATER

It was another banner week for anglers jigging for crappie. These panfish are in the midst of their spawning period and gather in large schools in areas with depths ranging from 8 to 15 feet of water. Some anglers will drift fish with multiple rods in holders suspending Missouri minnows and varying depths until they locate a school. Dropping a marker buoy makes repeating a drift easy and more productive. The action with these fish should be solid for the next few months.

Bass fishing has also taken off in area lakes. Lake Manatee down in Bradenton has been producing good catches of bass averaging about 2 to 3 pounds for anglers tossing Rat ‘L Traps and the new Berkley Stunna 112 +2.

Anglers fishing Lake Tarpon are catching bass to 5 pounds on vibrating jigs and Senkos.

Take advantage of the great weather while we have it and go fishing! ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Jan. 24-26 Report

Water temperatures have ranged from a low of about 50 degrees in some of our bays to 57 degrees in the Gulf. At these temperatures, falling in the water can induce hypothermia that can be fatal in less than an hour. Hypothermia can also occur when the body temperature falls below 95 degrees. Dressing appropriately is a must any time, you’re on the water or out of doors particularly during extreme temperatures.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Anglers have had some tough weather lately for most boats trying to get well offshore to fish and even the nearshore trips have been a bit sporty for some. On a recent trip offshore, Captain Brian Morgan of Captain Morgan’s Fishing Adventures out of Marine Max in St. Petersburg had a terrific trip, despite some lumpy seas. His anglers boated cobia, a 6-man limit of red grouper, 5 nice scamp grouper, and 3 mangos. If you’re interested, you can book a spot on the rail to pull in your share. Capt. Morgan can be reached at 813-516-9365 to book your adventure of a lifetime.

Hogfish continue to round out most nearshore trips and a few beyond 80 feet of water when weather allows. It appears that next week we will have a break in the weather from the cold and high winds to see the temps rise into the 70’s. While the depths out to about 50 to 60 feet might see the greatest water temperature change, especially on periods of afternoon outgoing tides just southwest of passes around next Wednesday’s new moon, deep water wrecks offshore will remain fairly constant below the surface water temperatures.

Look for some potential action with tripletail on this brief warming trend, because it will be short-lived with another front predicted to move in next weekend. There are still plenty of stone crab traps in the Gulf and along the beaches that will attract these fish.

INSHORE

Inshore waters are beginning to produce some larger speckled trout in the mid-20-inch range. Most anglers fishing popping corks with a live shrimp suspended underneath are seeing good action. Using 1/0 circle hooks can prevent or reduce the number of gut-hooked fish and ultimately reduce release mortality for those discarded. Handle minimally with a wet hand if necessary, using pliers or a tool such as the Baker Hook-Out, keeping the fish in the water if possible.

Trout might be your second-best bet if you’re fishing this weekend, but coming up next week with warmer conditions, fishing should explode for a few days around Wednesday’s new moon and the warming trend.

Sheepshead fishing will likely be a top target right now as more fish are moving onto the flats and around docks, pilings, bridges, rubble, rock piles, and seawalls. Live fiddler crabs are the top bait right now if you can find them. Sunny days are the best times to look for fiddlers and they come out of their holes to sun themselves.

Hearty redfish are being caught, but rough weather has most of the schooled fish broken up into singles or doubles. Live shrimp has been the best bait for them. Rig it on a light jig head to make for better casting distance. Getting the offering as far from your boat as possible will help present it with more stealth for a better shot at hooking fish. Snip off the last section of the tail and tail-hook the shrimp. This exudes a little scent to help fish find the bait.

FRESHWATER

It’s crappie time! Lots of speckled perch have been caught over the past couple of weeks, according to reports. Bass fishing has been steady as well. Missouri minnows are tops for some big slab crappie but if you don’t want to mess with aerators or bait buckets just a handful of crappie jigs like The Road Runner Crappie X-Tractor or the Road Runner Slab Runner. These can be slow-trolled or drift behind the boat at varying depths until you find a depth that fish are holding. A bottom machine will help locate schooling fish. When you find a school, drop a marker buoy to help you return to the area where you found fish if trolling or drifting and repeat. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Jan. 17-19 Report

We have more weather predicted for the weekend, so pay attention to the forecasts and look for a good weather window to get out. That window may not be this weekend for offshore anglers, but protected areas inshore could be possible.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Red grouper have been seeing a lot of hooks lately as the season is now open. Anglers report good action when they can get on the water. Productive fishing for them ranges in depths beyond 80 feet over limestone bottom that is pocked with holes. Some call this Swiss cheese bottom. This bottom has minimal large ledges but a combination of sand and rock. A variety of baits have been effective. Squid, cut threadfin, live and cut pinfish, and sardines have produced good catches.

Hogfish continue to please anglers who have a livewell full of shrimp to feed them. Action has been good in nearshore waters starting at about 40 to 60 feet of water and deeper.

Into bluewater depths beyond 120 feet, anglers have been catching blackfin tuna, scattered kingfish, and a few wahoo.

INSHORE

Coming off the full moon earlier this week tides have produced some very low tides in the negative range. This can be terrific if you’re a kayaker or get out with a canoe or other shallow drafting boat to fish. Wade fishing is another option, but waders this time of year are a must since water temperatures have varied from the mid-50s to the mid-60s. Chest-high waders are the way to go, but don’t forget to wear the chest belt that comes with these waders. In the event you step into a deep hole, the belt prevents water from coming in over the top of the waders and filling them, leaving you struggling at best to get out of the hole.

Sheepshead, trout and redfish have been the majority of fish caught over the past week with some scattered bluefish in the mix. These fish are ruthless and have razor-sharp teeth that enable them to take a chomp out of your 22-inch trout up to the gill plate in one single bite. Use caution in dehooking these fish, as a finger is just snack-size for them. You’ll find sheepshead all over the flats but also concentrated on rubble, rock piles, around bridge and pier pilings, as well as rock jetties. Live fiddler crabs are producing the best action but small pieces of fresh shrimp also work well on size #1 hooks. These fish have small mouths so don’t use too big a bait and scale your hook size to the size of your bait as well.

Trout might be the easiest fish to find as they are dropping into deep holes and along channels on these negative low tides that we have seen lately. Tandem rigged jigs can make fast work of catching a limit of trout here in the West Central Region with three fish per person allowed between 15 and 19 inches. Only one of those fish may exceed 19 inches, Those fish are breeders so do your fishing future a favor and release all of the over-slot fish.

Redfish have been found around oyster bars and in swash channels on the higher tides. Live shrimp or fiddler crabs have been good baits lately, but jerk baits like the MirrOlure Lil’ John in the Purple Demon color have been on fire lately catching good numbers of redfish. I like them rigged on a 1/8 oz. jighead. They cast well even in a breeze, land quietly with minimal splash, sink fairly slowly, and have good darting action. Reds have been found on mud banks in water exposed to direct sunlight as they sun themselves to get warm. Stealth presentations will have these fish pouncing on your lures or baits but approach these areas with a low profile to keep from spooking them. Poling into your location will keep things as quiet as necessary to maximize your catch.

FRESHWATER

Cold water doesn’t seem to affect most of our freshwater species. Crappie thrive in temperatures that we have now and some have begun to spawn. These fish school best during spawning periods and over the next few months it will be peak time for these fish to get together. Drifting Missouri minnows is an effective way to locate and catch these fish but crappie jigs might be a little more challenging but super effective and less costly over the long run for catching good numbers of these fish. There are loads of brands of crappie jigs out there and a lot of them are effective such as those from T.T.I. Blakemore Road Runner, Bobby Garland, and Hal Fly.

Bass have been invigorated by this cold water and the fronts. Topwater action can be had on the warmer days between fronts but lures like the Chatterbait will get good numbers and sizes of these fish. The Jack Hammer Chatterbaits seems to be one of the hottest of these lures right now. Give them a try and see if they produce for you! ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Jan. 10-12 Report

Much cooler weather has been on tap for this week with another cold front on the way for this weekend. Offshore depths won’t be affected as much as the shallows inshore. Finding a day with a warming trend, a bright sun, and light winds will be the keys to some good inshore action.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

A good variety of fish continue to chew in nearshore water depths ranging from 40 to 60 feet. Steady action with hogfish continues in that depth range. Porgies, sheepshead, grunts and several others are caught here. Lane snapper reopened and are on the hit list. Mangrove snapper are being caught in fewer numbers in nearshore depths but are in better numbers and size beyond 100 feet. Look for the calmest water within a few miles of the beaches on days with winds out of the east or with an easterly component for a nice ride out. Just beware that the ride back may not be quite as nice.

Pelagic action has been good for anglers fishing on the party boats out of Hubbard’s Marina. Good numbers of blackfin tuna are being caught along with kingfish and an occasional wahoo. The mangrove snapper bite is decent, and mutton snapper are becoming more of a regular catch in the past month. Both dead and live threadfins are doing the trick for muttons. Some of the largest mangrove snapper are caught while dropping live pinfish.

The top spot offshore goes to red grouper. With the reopening of red grouper on January 1, anglers who have been able to get out from 80 feet and deeper are finding some quality fire truck reds. Good action has been reported southwest of Pinellas on Swiss cheese-type bottom beginning in about 60-to 80-foot depths and beyond. The deeper waters fished are producing a few scamp grouper. Triggerfish are closed.

INSHORE

Water temperature is a major factor for catching our inshore species this time of year. You might find some black seabass in lower Tampa Bay on some of the patches of hard bottom that will cooperate, but with snook, trout, redfish, flounder and a few others, a little more planning and looking might be necessary to get on a consistent bite.

Incoming tides this time of year might produce some warmer waters, especially when winds get away from a northerly component. North winds tend to slow or even halt rising waters with this wind direction. Southerly breezes can produce warmer conditions that will trigger the metabolisms of most fish. Flounder are not quite as sensitive to the cold or nasty stuff, but for consistency, sheepshead will be your best bet even under the nastiest conditions, whether it’s cold, windy, or raining, they chew. Your best bait for them is likely to be fiddler crabs when fishing around any kind of rubble, pilings, docks, etc. Live shrimp may be your second choice, but don’t bother with large or hand-picked sizes. Sheepshead don’t have large mouths, so matching a 1/0 circle hook to a small shrimp should do the trick without having to set the hook when you feel these fish tap-tap and chew. Simply reel and get tight with the fish to set the hook.

Flounder will be found where there is moving water. Passes, oyster bar swash channels, and sandy spots often hold them. When tides are slow, look for the wind to produce some moving water, and at times, the wind-driven currents will outpace the predicted movements of a normal tide. You won’t find numbers of these fish as you might with trout, but they are worth targeting if you have the right habitat to find them. Snook fishing is not recommended during these cold spells as the cold stresses these temperature-sensitive fish, weakening them. They can potentially die from the stress.

Redfish action has been steady in some areas with dark muddy bottoms, and access to sunlight, seagrass and oyster bars. The combination of these factors makes for warming scenarios that will boost metabolic rates making these fish more apt to eat. Small offerings of fiddler crabs or live shrimp with a tail clipped will produce results, but to simplify things, tossing a lightweight jig or jerk bait such as the CAL Shad or MirrOlure Lil’ John will garner some attention. Oftentimes, presenting an artificial such as a DOA shrimp or the new Berkley saltwater PowerBait Power Switch Shrimp will produce instant results. In any case, a soft landing of your presentation will make or break your results.

Trout fishing has been outstanding in our region with good numbers of fish being caught as well as some upper and over-slot fish. The most productive way of catching them might be with tandem-rigged jigs like the DOA Deadly Tandem. But tying most any small lightweight jig pair in tandem will get results. You want lightweight jigs to allow the pairs to dart as well as fall slowly. Curly tails are best in slow tidal situations where the tails will flutter in the lightest current, but grub tails will dart more and in a school of trout, this can entice the bite creating a feeding frenzy and double hook-ups.

A real nuisance lately has been the number of bluefish in the bays that are chomping trout and others that are on your line as you try to get them in the boat. These fish have razor-sharp teeth and sometimes will cut a fish completely up to the gills. They have voracious appetites and are ruthless feeders. Be careful to avoid their teeth if you are releasing them. The use of a de-hooker such as the Baker Hookout will ensure the best safety.

FRESHWATER

Crappie and bass are a dynamic duo to be targeting right now. Bass are active in this cooler water, hitting a variety of lures. Even topwaters have produced some exciting action. I have had fantastic action with the L&S popper from the company making MirrOlures. Lures like the Rebel Pop-R are also excellent. Prop baits churn up some water and trigger strikes when a little wind is on the surface. Whether it’s a twitching or steady retrieve, the flash, splash, and vibrations will attract fish.

Crappie fishing has been on fire. Lots of action with these panfish is going on all around the state. They thrive in cold water and weather. While they do, you might not want to bundle up so much, so you do have an option, living in the Sunshine State. Head south to the “Big O”, Lake Okeechobee for some action that is hot right now. A day trip or even a long weekend either with your own boat or with a guide like Captain Angie Douthit will bring the heat you might be looking for while fishing. Book a trip today at www.SouthFloridabassfishing.com or (863) 228-7263. Not only can she put you on some spawning crappie but she can suggest some places to stay that offer her customers a special rate. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Jan. 2-5 Report

Welcome to 2025. Ringing in the New Year on the water has been a tradition of mine for at least the past 35 years. This is the first year that I will pass due to the amount of hurricane damage to the docks and ramp areas that make launching a vessel difficult at best and dangerous as well. It seems the topic of repair of these docks and ramps is not on the agenda. With tourism’s importance to Florida’s economy, one would think more emphasis would be placed on the repair of these launching facilities to get the boating community back on the water and fishing guides back to work to support what Florida calls “The Fishing Capital of the World.”

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Last Monday’s new moon will still have some effect on the tides for the upcoming weekend.  Fish on the bottom seem to bite best on slower periods of the tide and choose to move away from the structure to feed during these times.

On January 1, the New Year brought some changes. Triggerfish closed, but on the positive side, red grouper and lane snapper both reopened on the first. Plenty of lane snapper have been caught by anglers while fishing nearshore waters for hogfish in depths ranging from 40 to 60 feet. Red snapper closed for federally permitted charter vessels as well.

Look for red grouper in depths ranging from 80 to 90 feet and beyond. Mangrove snapper, vermilion, and yellowtail are all still being caught along with lanes. The occasional kingfish are caught on some deepwater wrecks. Blackfin tunas and a few wahoo have been caught as well.

INSHORE

Trout still are cooperating in the entire region. Multiple-year classes are caught, showing a fishery that is rebuilding well. We are finally seeing some fish in the mid-twenty-inch class, a good sign of recovery. We should continue to see even larger fish as we approach Spring. Anglers are finding good numbers around most grass flats that have some deeper potholes or channels. Grass patches are holding fish. A simple jig or jerk bait such as the MirrOlure Lil’ John rigged on a 1/8 or ¼ ounce jig head will produce good numbers. The Provoker color has been producing excellent numbers of trout according to Captains Justin and Scott Moore down on the southern portion of the West Central Region. The grassy areas inside the passes of Sarasota Bay have been producing some nice trout as well as a few pompano. Redfish have been scattered. The ICW to the south has been seeing some good snook action at night around the dock lights and bridge fenders.

Sheepshead fishing has steadily improved with good numbers of fish showing up on the flats and around docks, bridges, seawalls, rock piles, and pilings. Pick a sunny day on a dead low tide and find some fiddler crabs. The low tides encourage the fiddlers to come out when the sun is bright. Get a bunch in a bait bucket and toss in a little wet seaweed and they’ll keep for hours.

Hard bottom areas in lower Tampa Bay are producing some black seabass and bluefish as well as some larger trout in depths ranging from 10 to 20 feet. CAL Shads rigged on ¼ oz. jig heads work well. If there is slack tide, fish a 3” DOA Shrimp for good action. You might even find some keeper mangrove snapper as well.

FRESHWATER

Steady action around the region with crappie, bass, and bluegill has been reported. Anglers fishing Lake Manatee in Bradenton are finding some freshwater catfish along with crappie, bluegill, and some nice bass. Lake Tarpon in Pinellas has had good bass action for anglers fishing black or purple worms and Junebug-colored Senkos. Vibrating jigs are also catching some nice stringers of bass. Lake Seminole in Pinellas has also seen some good action with bass, and stumpknockers caught on Roadrunner lures.

Residential ponds with good depth are producing some fat bass for anglers in Pinellas, Pasco, and Manatee Counties. A variety of crankbaits are working well. The Bill Lewis Rat L’ Trap has been a top producer in chrome/ blue back color. There’s always someplace out of the wind to find some fish. Find your honey hole and get out in 2025. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Dec. 27-29 Report

As the year ends, we should reflect on this year, look forward to the year ahead, and ask ourselves what we can do to make our fishery even better. For now, we look forward to the last weekend of the year with hope, as always, for a better one ahead. There are many things you can do to help our fishery, such as joining the Coastal Conservation Association. There are local chapters not just in Florida but all around the coast of the US. They are a voice for recreational anglers. They build artificial reefs, restore mangrove shorelines, seed areas with clams to help filter and clean polluted waters, restore oyster populations to also filter water, and so much more. To find out more about how you can get involved, go to https://ccaflorida.org/.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

This from FWC:

• Recreational harvest of red grouper and lane snapper opens in Gulf state waters on Jan. 1.
• Harvest of red grouper and lane snapper will open in Gulf state waters on Jan 1.

If you plan to fish for red grouper in Gulf state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up for the State Reef Fish Angler Designation (annual renewal is required). This annual designation allows you to be selected to receive a mail survey for the State Reef Fish Survey. By participating in the State Reef Fish Survey, you are improving recreational data that are used to provide optimum recreational fishing opportunities in Florida. To learn more about the State Reef Fish Survey, visit MyFWC.com/SRFS.

For current recreational red grouper regulations visit MyFWC.com/Marine, click on “Recreational Regulations,” “Reef Fish” and then “Grouper.”

For recreational lane snapper regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations,” “Reef Fish” and then “Snapper.”

You can also download the Fish Rules App to keep up to date on current fishing regulations while on the water.

Hogfish are still lighting up smiles in nearshore waters ranging from 40 to 60 feet. Red snapper are still available onboard Federally permitted charter boats through the end of the year. The boats out of Hubbard’s Marina have been posting some nice catches of red snapper. Plenty of mangrove snappers, vermilions, and some lane snappers have been caught along with a variety of others. As we approach the new moon on the 30th look for daytime action to be good.

INSHORE

Trout are the shining star around our region right now. Water temperatures over the past week have dropped, ranging from the mid-to-upper 50’s. Trout don’t seem to mind the cooler water temperatures and the lower tides have pushed these fish into schools in potholes and along channel edges, making them easier to target. Most fish have been in the slot where we have been fishing in the Boca Ciega/ Tampa Bay area. Reports of some over-slot fish in the northern areas of our region as well as down south in Sarasota Bay, Terra Ceia Bay, and just north of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge have also been noted. The DOA Shrimp has been the hot lure for my anglers, but the DOA Deadly Tandem rig with two jigs on a rig has been catching good numbers of doubles when fished around schooling fish. I also found some good action with trout using the Berkley Stick Shad and the new Berkley Stunna 100 +1, both suspending lures while working channels. Captain Scott Moore, fishing out of Holme's Beach, reported some excellent action this week using MirrOlure's Lil' John in the Purple Demon color.

Redfish action has been steady. It hasn’t been on fire but fish are being caught. Most successful anglers using live bait, opt for live shrimp, which is producing well. Artificial bait anglers using MirrOlure Lil’ Johns, and weedless gold spoons like the Eppinger Rex Spoon are finding some good action, as have those anglers tossing a DOA 3-inch Shrimp in near clear, glow, or gold glitter colors.

Snook fishing has come to a screeching halt in these lower water temperatures. Their metabolism shuts down in cold water, and thus the requirement for food is reduced. Fish that you may find that will eat are usually found on dark mud bottoms adjacent to deep water on sunny stretches of bottom where direct sunshine heats the shallows. Many of these fish are in a cold-stressed situation and are best left alone and not targeted. If caught, sometimes the struggle of trying to escape can kill these fish.

Flounder action has been slowly rising around passes with sandy areas. Areas where changes in depth and bottom makeup are good areas for flounder as they enhance their ability to camouflage themselves to ambush their prey. Shrimp-tipped jigs might be the best for attracting these fish right now.

Sheepshead are showing up on the flats and around pilings just about everywhere along the coast. These fish are getting much fatter as they approach the spawning period over the next several months. Most will spawn on the full moon weeks but some also spawn around new moons. Next Monday’s new moon might see some of these fish more active than normal. Live fiddler crabs might be the top bait on the flats and around seawalls, pilings, and rock piles. Lower Tampa Bay has numerous areas where rock piles have been dropped from the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The rubble has a lot of marine growth that attracts crustaceans, and small baitfish which in turn attracts a variety of predators such as mangrove snapper, flounder, sheepshead, hogfish, and gag grouper.

FRESHWATER

Bass have been fired up with this cooler weather but right now crappie fishing is off the charts. Excellent catches of crappie are coming from Lake Tarpon in Pinellas, a variety of lakes in Polk County, and from Lake Manatee down in Bradenton. If you don’t have a bottom machine to locate specks, drift-fishing with Missouri minnows is a good way to locate these fish by having several crappie poles rigged at varying depths. The rod that goes off will usually show the most productive depth. Drop a marker buoy where the action starts and one where it ends and repeat the drift between the markers at the most productive depth. Jig fishing for speckled perch is possibly the most popular and doesn’t require keeping bait alive. A variety of crappie jigs are effective in numerous color combinations. Some very popular versions of crappie jigs come from TTI Blakemore in their Road Runner series of jigs. Grab a few handfuls of these lures and head for a lake near you and you might find some of the hottest action yet in cold weather. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Dec. 19-22 Report

Winter weather patterns seem to be making a more common appearance here on the Suncoast with varying warm and cool weather bringing on the temperature changing Yo-Yo effect rising and falling with each new cold front passage. The best advice is to “keep your knees bent.” In other words, stay flexible with your fishing plans and don’t be afraid to change them as conditions change.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Anglers hopping on board the party boats out of Hubbard’s Marine for half-day or 10-hour trips in nearshore waters are finding some nice flounder around bottom areas with varying depth and composition. Sand meeting shell, rock meeting sand, ledges and depth changes all attract flounder that have the amazing ability to change coloration to match the bottom they lie on. They can change much like the chameleon. Flounder will take shrimp readily, but cut or live baitfish will also work. If using small pinfish, whitebait, threadfins, or others, in this cooler water clipping the tail to slow the bait’s ability to swim very quickly will often produce more fish as it’s easier for the flattie to catch it. Live shrimp with the tip of the tail removed will also slow it down as well as exude some scent that will attract these fish. You’ll often find them wherever you will catch hogfish. Most anglers dropping live shrimp for the hogfish may also see flounder on the line. Shrimp are more easily digestible in cooler water and often preferred by most species during the winter, both inshore and nearshore. Sheepshead are also in the catch in nearshore waters, and sand fleas and shrimp used for hogfish work well on Sheepies, grunts, assorted snappers, porgies, sea bass, and other nearshore/offshore species.

Offshore anglers are doing well with triggerfish, hogfish and mangrove snapper. Federally permitted charter boats fishing for red snapper are limiting out daily. Hubbard’s 39-hour trips are finding some big gag groupers and red grouper for release. Almaco jacks, yellowtail, mangrove, a few muttons and plenty of vermilion snappers have also been chewing. Blackfin tuna, kingfish and scamp grouper have also been landed well offshore.

INSHORE

Water temperatures have been running between 60 and 65 degrees in the mid-portion of the region. All but snook can tolerate this temperature range. It’ll slow down mangrove snapper as well but it’s not as detrimental to them as it is with snook that can die in very cold conditions. We won’t find a lot of baitfish on the flats this time of year, but shrimp will be your go-to bait for everything on the flats right now.

Tripletail are being caught but most anglers aren’t targeting them with all the trout and redfish that have been available. But checking out the multitude of flotsam in the bays and along the Gulf will give you plenty of shots at these fish. Live shrimp and small jigs are good baits for these fish.

Sizes of trout have ranged widely, showing that there are multiple year classes available. Ranging from 8 to 25 inches, trout have been hitting shrimp under popping corks or the artificial version from DOA Lures called the Deadly Combo. Freelining live shrimp or drifting a DOA Shrimp in the current will produce flounder, sheepshead, trout, redfish, jacks, ladyfish and many other species. In the long run it’s less expensive and less mess to deal with to use the artificial and you don’t have to worry about keeping it alive.

Redfish have been showing up around passes in good numbers with many sub-slot fish. Other areas of Tampa Bay have been holding some big over-slot reds. Gold Eppinger Rex Spoons, Johnson Silver Minnow spoons and Huntington Drone spoons have all taken some nice reds. Residential canals with good depth and older docks have been holding snook. Dark muddy bottoms are holding heat and some snook and reds in the deeper turns of creeks and rivers. Tannin-stained or murky water will retain heat better than clear water. Pay close attention to your thermometer on your bottom machine if you have one and note the temperature in the various areas you are fishing and the kind of activity you find at each area.

For the youngsters who just want anything to put a bend in their rods, lots of jacks and ladyfish are around and will take just about any kind of fast-moving flashy jig. We got into a mess of them using CAL Shads from DOA Lures, and kids love that kind of action. We’ve found a few flounder in the past week while fishing channels on the flats. We have been catching them on DOA Shrimp and MirrOlure Lil’ John jerk baits. Maintaining contact with the bottom is crucial when fishing for these fish. If you have a difficult time doing that, either slow your presentation down or use a heavier jig head. I typically use a quarter-ounce jig head while fishing depths of 2 to 6 feet. For deeper water or water with faster running current I’ll use a 3/8-ounce jig head. A variety of colors of soft plastic tails will work as well as shapes like grub tails, jerk baits, shrimp, and curly tails will all work.

FRESHWATER

Cold, blustery days make it difficult for fly anglers to fish rivers, creeks and lakes with lots of overhanging trees or vegetation. Casting accurately in a breeze takes practice and experience that still might leave you swearing at a last-second gust of wind on a long cast that puts one of your prized hand-tied flies in the trees or bushes. Picking a day when winds die and high pressure moves in and a bluebird sky appears offers other obstacles, such as fish with lock jaw. Maybe it’s time to break out the cane poles or extendable crappie poles and go speck fishing. This time of year is excellent for these tasty fish. If you find this region too cold for your bones to fish, Captain Angie Douthit who runs charters on world famous Lake Okeechobee can host a day on the water for you with warmer temperatures and plenty of action with big bass, bluegill and all the crappie you like. Just show up with your camera for the lunkers and a cooler for the crappie and you have it made. Captain Angie will do the rest. If you need to book a place to stay, Capt. Angie might even have some hotels that offer discounts for her clients. To book a trip with Capt. Douthit, call her cell phone at 863-228-7263 or go to her website at www.southfloridabassfishing.com. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Dec. 13-15 Report

Recent weather is beginning to show some signs of winter patterns. We have seen the yo-yo effect of warm weather followed by cooler weather, but this week might be a bit more extreme than previous weeks. By mid-week, our water temperature in Boca Ciega Bay and around some of the passes varied between 60 and 65 degrees. With air temperatures expected to fall into the 30s to the north, and 40s by Thursday in much of our region, you can expect to see another drop in water temperature as well. Again, we should see some warming by the weekend, but make your presentations of baits slow to lethargic fish.

The most recent red tide sampling shows scattered patches of low to medium levels of the bloom from south Pinellas down to Marco Island.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

At its December meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an executive order to close the recreational harvest of lane snapper in Florida Gulf state waters starting Dec. 13. Harvest will remain closed through Dec. 31, and will reopen on Jan. 1, 2025, consistent with the closure in adjacent Gulf federal waters.

Hogfish continue to please anglers working from 40 feet out while dropping live shrimp. Nearshore trips are producing good action with Spanish mackerel to about 5 pounds.

Boats heading out beyond 120-foot depths are seeing some of the most consistent fishing right now. At those depths and beyond, the water temperature is stable, so the metabolism of most fish doesn’t change much. Reports have been excellent this past week, with a wide variety of fish being caught. Mangrove snapper action has been steady with a few mangos over six pounds being caught. Capt. Dylan Hubbard out of Hubbard’s Marina says they have had a good bite on cut threadfin herring and live shrimp for mangos but the largest fish caught have come on live pinfish. Yellowtail and vermilion snapper have been caught on assorted cut baits. Porgies and Almaco jacks have been caught in the same areas.

Pelagics have been actively feeding well offshore and some kingfish topping 30 pounds have been caught along with some blackfin tunas over deep water wrecks and hard bottom. Scamp grouper and triggerfish have also been in the catch.

INSHORE

The trout bite has been pretty consistent. Lower tides this past week produced some action in channels near passes and pinch points where water was moving a little faster. By far, the DOA shrimp out-produced other artificials we fished this week. However, the old tried and true bucktails from local manufacturer Pumpkin Jigs picked up some nice trout and flounder. The 3-inch DOA Shrimp model in clear with gold glitter and the glow colors attracted the most fish. In addition to catching some quality trout to 21 inches, sheepshead, flounder, jacks, redfish, ladyfish, and a few others were caught on the shrimp. Live shrimp will work well since it’s possibly the most available on the flats for game fish to eat.

Whiting and pompano have been caught around the passes from Pass-A-Grille to John’s Pass in Pinellas. A few were also reported being caught down near Longboat Pass and New Pass in Sarasota. Good action was seen on these fish around the passes on Doc’s Goofy Jigs.

With the snook season being closed now and water temperatures down in the low 60s and upper 50s, it might be best to not target them. Cold water stresses the snook and the stress of being caught in cold conditions can add to their release mortality.

FRESHWATER

Cold fronts and blustery winds have arrived, but it seems not many are complaining about it. It seems the panfish and bass take it all in stride, and speckled perch actually thrive in cold conditions. You’ll likely find them spawning over the next several months along with largemouth bass. Crappie jigs like those from T.T.I. Blakemore with their Road Runner lures will take some big specks this time of year.

Bedding bass can be found in some areas around the perimeter of lakes near the banks. A dished-out spot ranging from a foot or so in diameter to several feet is usually a sign of bedding activity. Natural predators to bass that are spawning are salamanders, eel-like creatures, water snakes and similar creatures that you can find in the stores that are made of soft plastics. Bluegill also have predatory instincts around bass beds and try to feed on the eggs that are laid. The protective male bass attempts to ward off all attacks on the nest or bed. The Berkley Gilly is a productive lure when fished around bass beds.

Fly anglers will find worm imitations to be very productive for panfish. Small poppers or foam spiders will get some action from both bass and bluegill in warmer sunny mornings. With the holidays just around the corner, many are taking some vacation days and getting on the water. If you haven’t tried fly fishing, it might be a great time to visit a local tackle shop and pick up a starter kit that includes a rod, reel, fly line, and leader. Several manufacturers offer these starter rods for around $100. The shops can usually suggest flies that work well for your area. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later.

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Dec. 5-8 Report

The year is winding down and the fishing is heating up, as long as you pay attention to the changing conditions with weather, tides and atmospheric conditions, and slow your presentations down.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

No matter whether you’re fishing just off the beaches or in 60 feet of water, it seems one of the best bets right now is hogfish. Add to that a bunch of white grunts, some grits, baked beans and potato salad and you have the makings of a great fish fry. Starting in about 30 to 40 feet of water dropping some live shrimp will get the day going and the fish chewing. Removing the tip of the tail will release scent from the shrimp, attracting snapper, grunts and finally hogfish. Several glassy smooth days between fronts can make for banner days of fishing for both nearshore and offshore waters. The long-range trips aboard boats out of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach have been outstanding with banner catches of a huge variety of fish. Right after cold fronts blow through, fish are feeding with reckless abandon after having to hunker down on ledges and high relief of hard bottom. Anglers taking trips on one of these federally permitted charter boats are finding good numbers of red snapper that are open to those charter boats. The recreational red snapper quota was met, so there is no fall season for red snapper for the recreational sector. A variety of snappers in addition to American reds are being caught with good numbers of lane, yellowtail and vermilions in the mix, along with a few mangrove snapper. In recent weeks even a few mutton snapper were caught. Kingfish are being caught while trolling lipped plugs and Huntington Drone Spoons, and many are in the 20-to 30-plus pound range. The best depths for kings as a rule of thumb, is wherever you find clean water. This can start just off the beaches but go all the way out to deep water wrecks. A few blackfin tunas have come over the rails and good numbers of gag and red grouper are being caught and released, since they are out of season. Amberjacks have been caught on the offshore springs.

INSHORE

Water temperatures have fallen into the mid-50s, and perhaps lower to the northern portion around Hernando. A later start in mid-morning might be more productive as the sun begins to warm the waters. Fishing the sunny side of residential canals and mangroves can up your odds of a hook-up. Working baits, especially artificials very slowly, is the key now for catching fish. Terry Lee Gillingham of St. Petersburg reported good action with over-slot trout just off the beaches using a Doc’s Goofy Jig. Also in the catch are hogfish, white grunts, sheepshead, and pompano.

Spotted seatrout seem to be loving this cold snap. Live shrimp fished under popping corks with about 2 to 3 feet of 15-pound test leader fished over patches of grass and sand in 3 to 6 feet of water will typically find some rod-bending action. A host of soft-plastic lures like the DOA Shrimp, CAL Jig with a Shad tail or MirrOlure Lil’ Johns will all get the nod from hungry trout. A tandem rigged jig set-up will be terrific for boating numbers of these fish. The cooler waters invigorate the fish, and they fight a little harder this time of year because of it. The secret to catching doubles on this rig is that once a first fish is hooked, keep the rod bent but reel the fish in slowly. As the fish shakes its head from side-to-side, the second jig will dart with every head shake, attracting another trout. This is a great time of year to target schooling trout. Coming off the new moon last week and with northerly breezes, tides will be lower than the predictions, forcing trout to lay up in potholes and just off the edges of channels. It’s not uncommon to catch 50 or more trout in a day, so for easy and harmless releases, it’s best to pinch the barbs down on your hooks. Good action has been reported from spots around Boca Ciega Bay, Fort Desoto, Sarasota Bay near New Pass, at Key Royale, Terra Ceia Bay, and along the ICW from Dunedin to Anclote Key.

Snook season closed Dec. 1. The closure that was instituted decades ago was to preserve these temperature-sensitive fish during periods of extreme cold. When water temperatures fall below the mid-60s, these fish become very sluggish, and if prolonged cold weather pushes the temperature much below that, these fish can be stunned and appear to be dead or dying and lay on the bottom. It’s best to just leave the fish alone and as the sun heats the water during the day, the fish will slowly recuperate. It’s best to avoid targeting snook during periods of extreme cold. While they will bite a live shrimp or artificial shrimp, the struggle to get free could stress the fish to its death.

Flounder season reopened last Sunday, Dec. 1. Fish have been caught on nearshore artificial reefs as well as around sandy areas with good moving water such as passes. Small pinch points in bays can be very productive where there is a combination of changes such as bottom make-up with grass, sand, shell, dark and light-colored areas, as well as depth. Using jig heads with a little heavier weight will help keep the jig on the bottom where it needs to be to attract these fish. Jigs tipped with a tiny bit of fresh shrimp will enhance the bite. My go-to rig is a ¼-ounce jighead with a CAL Shad or MirrOlure Lil’ John soft plastic body. In depths greater than 8-feet or in faster moving water, a heavier 3/8 or even a ½ oz. jig head helps keep the jig down.

Redfish have been laid up in the shallows over dark muddy bottoms. These areas that are adjacent to some deep waters are prime holding areas for reds to sit while waiting on a rising tide and warmer incoming water. As this occurs, metabolism of the fish begins to stir, encouraging the fish to feed. Fishing the shallows, I like lures that land silently on the water to avoid spooking fish. Areas that are sheltered from the wind will likely have clear water conditions, so keeping a low profile is important to stealth and avoid these easily spooked fish.

Offerings in a crab pattern, for fly fishers will be readily eaten with a good presentation. Very light jig heads such as 1/16 oz. or 1/8 oz. with a small soft plastic body grub tail such as a jerk bait or Berkley Gulp! are good choices.

If you’ve been on the flats over the past few months, you’ve seen sheepshead invading the flats in increasing numbers. Most will be found feeding on oyster bars, around barnacle encrusted pilings, and rock piles. I’ve found that while these fish will take a DOA Shrimp, there are few artificials that will consistently catch these striped bait-stealers. A bit of fresh shrimp, a live fiddler crab, and even a few barnacles threaded on a hook will all be eaten by these fish. Docks, bridges and piers are excellent areas to find sheepies around the pilings. Scraping a few barnacles off the pilings and allowing them to fall into the water can create a stream of chum that will attract these fish and turn on a bite.

FRESHWATER

Bass fishing has taken off over the past few weeks. Reports of fish bedding around the perimeter of lakes is common. Soft plastic creature baits like eels, the DOA Sna-Koil, or salamanders are excellent. The Berkley Powerbait Gilly can be super effective around beds. Bladed jigs like the Chatterbait become more effective this time of year around a little deeper water.

The crappie bite continues to improve by the day and with water temperatures falling, these fish are getting actively aggressive as they prepare to spawn. Look for these fish where there is good depth, ranging from 10 to 20 feet and more. Fish will be schooling, so a fish finder will help locate fish or you can drift fish using Missouri Minnows or slow-troll Blakemore Road Runner Slab Runners, Slab Draggers or Crappie X-Tractors for an easy laid-back day of fishing. Hang on to that rod because the big ones are getting even bigger. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Nov . 29-Dec. 1 Report

Cold fronts will become more common over the next few months as the winter season settles in. We can expect some breezy conditions and big temperature swings that will stir things up for fish. A steady bite may be hard to come by but fish will definitely chew when the conditions are right and it’s usually at the beginning of a “weather window”, the time after a front passes just as the barometric pressure is beginning to rise and the skies are clearing.

Some areas, particularly to the south around Manatee and Sarasota waters are seeing some lower levels of red tide algae bloom. Fish kill reports have not come in other than around Englewood and Boca Grande. If you do see a fish kill, call the Fish Kill Hotline at 1 (800) 636-0511 and report it.

The Thanksgiving holiday this Thursday might see a few boats out as the turkey and stuffing digest, but whether it’s a parade or football games that keeps you glued to the TV at home or just the stuffing and leftover pumpkin pie, this is a great weekend ahead.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

For those itching to get out but offshore winds and seas might be more than they want to deal with, nearshore waters continue to produce excellent catches of hogfish. Some catches of tripletail have also been reported along with a variety of snappers. On those big boat days when it’s a little too sporty for a bay boat, some of the bigger party boats have made the runs offshore and produced some fantastic catches with a big variety of species. There has been an extension of red snapper for federally permitted boats and anglers targeting red snapper have had some phenomenal catches. One of the party boats out of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach on a 44-hour trip came to the docks with at least a dozen mutton snappers up to 10-pounds. Mangrove and some big “flag” yellowtail snappers were caught. Scamp grouper were also in the haul of fish along with some nice kingfish, a few Spanish mackerel, porgies, almaco jacks, blackfin tunas, and roughly 40 triggerfish. What a great variety for this long-range trip. In addition to the fish brought back, the group caught and released over 100 gag grouper and were broken off by some huge fish. Hubbard mentioned that red snapper for federally permitted vessels will see red snapper open until the end of the year. They are booking both 44 and 39-hour trips as well as 12-hour extreme trips that will all get you to some fishy waters. Capt. Will said that there was very little current out there which made anchoring and bottom fishing very good.

INSHORE

This has been a great weather week with lighter winds and cool mornings followed by a good warming afternoon of sunshine that fish are responding to after a huge water temperature drop last week of nearly 18-degrees in some areas. The warmer weather this week has just about shaken off the shock of the change, allowing anglers to catch a variety of fish on the inshore waters around the region. Good numbers of trout are being caught. Most were still hanging in deeper holes with cooler water temperatures around. Some of the larger fish might be found in the shallows on a sunny side of a spoil island over darker bottom. While many are shorts that need to be carefully released, some have been in the upper slot and some well over. Anglers may keep three fish in the 15 to 19-inch slot with one fish over the 19-inch maximum in our region.

Redfish are finding some warmer areas of the shallows in backcountry areas that are sheltered from the winds. Find these dark mud bottom bars that are exposed to direct sunlight, and you’ll find a bunch of reds. Lures that land very quietly on the water can avoid spooking these fish. Casting beyond the fish so as to not spook them and using a very slow retrieve will usually get a bite from a sunning redfish. Fly anglers using long leaders can present a fly to these fish quietly and usually get a good hook up. Waters will be ultra-clear in most areas that are sheltered and for long range sight-fishing I highly recommend a good pair of polarized sunglasses like those from Costa Del Mar. I typically use an amber, copper, or vermillion colored lens for sight-fishing. They give excellent contrast making it easier to spot fish laying on the bottom. If I’m using spinning gear, I will take a DOA Shrimp or a MirrOlure Lil John rigged on a 1/16 oz. jighead. I’ll typically use 10-pound braided line such as Berkley Fireline or Power Pro with about 2 to 3-feet of 20-pound Ande Backcounty for my leader. Both lures can skip quite well up under overhanging mangroves if necessary. Snook, trout, and redfish will all trash these baits this time of year.

Snook hightailed it up rivers and creeks and many headed into backcountry waters where they could stay warm on the last cold front. Some are poking their noses out onto the flats to feed as the sun warms the waters. The DOA Shrimp might be my most productive lure for cold water snook. Snook season closes at midnight, Saturday night, November 30.

FRESHWATER

If you haven’t done it already, dust off your freshwater gear, grab a crappie pole or a bass rod and head for a lake or river near you. Both rivers and lakes are producing good catches of speckled perch, particularly in those areas with deeper water in the 10-to 20-foot range. If you’re bass fishing, crankbaits and suspending baits are good lures for this time of year. Bladed jigs like the Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer are also effective.

If you’re into speck fishing or bluegills, Missouri minnows are terrific natural baits for crappie. But if you like artificials, the Crappie X-Tractor from Road Runner TTI Blakemore is terrific whether by casting or slow trolling. Red wigglers and crickets are great natural baits for bluegill.

Whatever you choose, there’s some great fishing to be had this time of year in the West Central Region. Happy Thanksgiving to all. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Nov. 22-24 Report

The cold front that moved into the West Central Region at mid-week will likely make some changes that will affect the fishing this weekend. Look for much cooler temperatures by Friday with a moderating adjustment over the weekend.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Prior to the front moving through Wednesday morning with a little rain, fish chewed hard according to reports from offshore. Some anglers fishing out more than 23 miles to the northwest out of St. Pete. reported an excellent bite from gag grouper, a variety of snappers and hogfish. The hogfish bite has been crazy starting from about 40 feet, but beyond that, according to Capt. Dylan Hubbard out of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass, but once past the 50-foot mark he said there are swarms of lane snapper out to about 80 feet that make it virtually impossible to get baits down to the hogfish.

Gags are still closed yet anglers continue to pull up lots of big legal-sized fish in the 20-pound class. The depths these fish are coming from have required venting or the use of devices to alleviate barotrauma. These devices are mandatory equipment on board vessels targeting reef fish.

If people are wondering where the Spanish mackerel are, Hubbard offered up some information that helps. The 5-hour trips on Hubbard’s party boats have been catching good numbers of Spanish while trolling behind the vessels on the way out to do some nearshore bottom dropping for hogfish. Live threadfins sent out on flatlines while on the hook are also working for Spanish and even a few kings.

The Old Salt 31st Annual King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament ran last weekend at Pro Marine at Bay Pines. Everyone knew the numbers of boats would be way down due to the hurricane damage done in the area as well as a down economy. With a normal fleet of competitors running into the 500-plus boat range, the 198-boat fleet that showed up to compete did just that. The numbers of kingfish that hit the decks were down as well, but for all their trouble, still a hefty 43.79-pound kingfish was not a problem for local angler and winner of the crown, Brian Hasson, who won for the third time in four years. His boat and crew seem to have the fishery dialed in while fishing aboard his boat named 99 Problems.

While many anglers chose to head offshore with some going north, some west, some south and parts in between, Hasson chose to fish inside Tampa Bay. He said the bay was loaded with bait. Eighteen places were awarded prize money in the Open Division. The winner in the Single Engine Division with a 38.93-pound king was the vessel, Bud Leiser. In the Ladies Division, a 22.75 king picked up the first-place prize. In the Youth Division, Reel Krapf took home the top prize with a 20.40-pound kingfish. Some of these anglers traveled a distance to compete in the Traveling Anglers Division and the vessel No Limits took home the honors with a 27.09-pound king. Finally, a special prize for the kingfish weighed in that was closest to 20.24 pounds without going over was caught by Sea Shaile, weighing 18.91 pounds allowing the winner to take home an Owens & Sons Marine Inc. trailer valued at over $10,000.

Right now, we are seeing high water temperatures for this time of year, pushing 78 to 80-degrees. Normally we see low 70s this time of year, and that tends to push Panhandle migratory kingfish south in waves with each front, but because this is the first front we’ve had, we might see a lot more of these fish on the way.

For several years now, the King of the Beach Tournament has included a separate species tournament with Spanish Mackerel. Captains entering the tournament may choose to fish either or both tournaments paying out the top five places. With a Spanish mackerel weighing 4.66 pounds, the vessel Smoke on the Water took home the top prize for that tournament.

INSHORE

Varied action has been taking place from Sarasota to Hernando Beach. Some areas have seen some terrific action with redfish, others with snook, and yet some others are seeing trout with consistent action. We are finally seeing a slight drop in water temperature that is way past due. By the weekend we will see more with air temperatures expected to drop into the low 50s at night and early morning. Some of my most productive days of fishing have been around the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving. If you could produce a mirror image of the air and water temperatures for the spring you might see similar action, perhaps around late March or April.

Trout to the northern portion of the region seem to be more plentiful and larger overall. Good redfish and snook action have been the norm around the passes from Anclote Key south to Indian Rocks and John’s Pass. Snook and some big reds have been caught in the upper portion of Tampa Bay around Rocky Creek. Live pinfish have been a top natural bait along with shrimp. DOA Shrimp and the Deadly Combo have been one of my top choices for trout. On the higher tides I prefer the 3-inch glow DOA Shrimp for skipping under overhanging mangroves where I’ll find some nice redfish and snook.

Sarasota Bay has been holding some big snook as well as some over-slot snook just south of Cortez from the Kitchen south. Scattered reds have been on the Bulkhead near the mouth of the Manatee River. On the Little Manatee River and in Cockroach Bay, anglers have done well with snook and reds using the MirrOlure MirrOdine 17MR18 and the 27MR18. Topwater action here has also been very good with the Duke Dog from MirrOlure.

Waves of sheepshead continue to filter into Tampa Bay and the other coastal bays. Most are hanging on rock piles, pilings, around bridges, and oyster bars. Live fiddler crabs have been the top natural baits but live shrimp are a close second.

Several passes along the coast are seeing some action with pompano but give it a couple more weeks with some cooler weather and we could see better numbers of these fish. Tossing a Doc’s Goofy Jig is the ticket to a fantastic dinner of these tasty fish.

FRESHWATER

It’s that time of year! Yes, the crappie have begun to chew and for freshwater anglers that means it’s time to get out the Blakemore Roadrunners, and load up the tackle box with Slab Runners, Team Crappie Slab Draggers, and Crappie E-Tractors from T.T.I Blakemore. Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business LLC. Charters in Bradenton is in good company when he heads to some of his favorite lakes for crappie. A recent trip produced more than enough fish for a few fish fries, and possibly some new epicurean delights by smoking crappie. I haven’t tried that one yet, but Capt. Rick swears by it.

Bass action is getting good as well as speckled perch in the entire state. Capt. Angie Douthit of www.Southfloridabassfishing.com says the action is really heating up down on Lake Okeechobee. The time to book a trip is right now to get in on some exciting action ahead . Both live bait and artificials are producing some very respectable stringers of bass, bluegill, and crappie on the lake. Give her a call and book a trip with her. She can also arrange lodging for you at a reasonable price. Experience what the Big “O” is known for on your next trip. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Nov. 15-17 Report

We aren’t out of the woods yet with hurricane season. Pay attention to the tropical disturbance, Sara, that’s building and is anticipated to become a hurricane by the weekend.

What crazy fall weather we’ve been having. Record high air temperatures and bay water temps still in the upper 70’s might be making fish feel like it’s still summer, but wait … weather forecasters say we can expect a mild cold front to blow in some time early Friday, cooling off air temps to the 50’s. I have a feeling this will be just what the doctor ordered to trigger a super bite, especially with the full moon tides on Friday. If we have a dark, cloudy sky at night, I’m betting we’ll have a banner snook bite. There are only a couple of weeks left in the season. Get it while you can.

OFFSHORE/NEARSHORE

NOAA Fisheries has this important bulletin for anglers:

• The Gulf of Mexico federal red snapper federal for-hire season will reopen at 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 18, 2024, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2025.
• The 2024 Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishing season in federal waters for vessels with federal for-hire (charter/headboat) reef fish permits was 88 days (opened June 1, 2024, and closed at 12:01 a.m. local time on August 28, 2024).
• Based on updated landings data, NOAA Fisheries determined that the red snapper recreational federal for-hire annual catch target was not reached during the open season. Therefore, NOAA Fisheries is reopening the season to provide Gulf of Mexico federally permitted for-hire fishermen opportunity to catch the remaining allocation.
• Private Anglers Note: This reopening does not affect the recreational private angler season, which is determined by state agencies. Please check with your state agency for information on your state’s red snapper fishing season.

While this may not affect most of you who have your own boats, those of you who don’t may want to hook up with a charter/head boat that is licensed to fish for red snapper during this period. The party boats out of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass will be specifically running special red snapper trips targeting them. Make reservations right away with your favorite charter captain who is federally permitted for some great-eating fish!

The majority of anglers I’m getting reports from have been targeting nearshore species. Hogfish takes the top targeted position. Along with them anglers have been catching mangrove, lane, and vermilion snappers, pogies, sheepshead, flounder, and a few others.

In case you haven’t heard, the 31st Annual Old Salt Fall King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament is this weekend out of Pro Marine Boat Sales in St. Petersburg, 9401 Bay Pines Blvd.

INSHORE

Anglers fishing from boats are finding quite a bit of debris still in the water and using caution is extremely important. Along with floating debris, there are plenty of limbs and branches from broken trees, shrubs, and mangroves that have gone into the water making jigs with exposed hooks hang up where this subsurface debris has settled. Using weedless Texas-style rigs with soft plastics like the CAL Jerk bait or MirrOlure Lil’ John or Provokers, have garnered a ton of attention from snook, trout, and redfish. Weedless spoons, such as the Eppinger Rex or Johnson’s Silver Minnow in gold color have been effective for redfish in the back waters and also snook around the insides of passes. Look for snook to be staging up around the points and passes with any kind of structure this weekend with the full moon creating some good moving water. The incoming cold front could push water out of the bays as long as it has a northerly component, making for some extra low tides. Fish will drop off into channels or into potholes.

Topwater action has been explosive and I’m betting as the waters cool this weekend, and approach the lower 70’s this bite will get even better. Good action with the Heddon Super Spook Jr. for trout has been noted, but most of the larger trout, at 25-plus inches, have been hitting either the MirrOlure 94MR18 Top Dog or the 5M24 MirrOlure prop bait. They have been especially effective on the breezy days, but on the days with lighter winds, I’m see the MirrOlure Duke Dog, that was introduced last year, outpace just about all the other topwaters in numbers of fish caught.

A few flounder have been caught, but the season remains closed through the end of the month. Most have been found around sandy passes with some kind of structure on the bottom.

The occasional pompano have been seen skipping along the edges of sand bars inside Tampa Bay from the Skyway to Bishop’s Harbor. We catch a few on CAL Jigs with Shad tails while targeting flounder, but Doc’s Goofy Jigs usually takes top honors for getting these tasty silvery fish.

A few Spanish mackerel have been caught out around the Egmont Key Ship’s Channel as it comes into Tampa Bay. Target these fish around bait schools using fast-moving flashy jigs or spoons. Check out channel markers and range markers in the bay for both Spanish and tripletail using live shrimp either freelined or using a popping cork.

FRESHWATER

Crappie fishing is underway, but will continue to improve as we get into some cooler winter weather. Bass action has also seen an increase with water temperatures falling slightly. We are about to see an explosion in action with these and many other freshwater species like bluegill, catfish, and more. Dust off your fly rod, spinning rod, baitcaster, or heck, even your cane pole and get out on the water for some great fall fishing! ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Nov. 7-11 Report

Breezy conditions this week made it tough for some to get on the water, for others, there continues to be a smattering of red tide around but fish kills in our region have not been reported.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

The 31st Annual Old Salt Fall King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament has been postponed until next week, the 14th- 16th at Pro Marine in Bay Pines. See the Old Salt website for details. www.oldsaltfishing.org. The question for the tournament might be where are the kingfish? Recent easterly winds make nearshore water flat out for a few miles that usually keeps the water clear, but over the past few weeks mild blooms of red tide that have been along coastal waters from Cape Coral to Clearwater may have discouraged fish from moving in close to feed on bait schools that were along the beaches. Few anglers have reported catching either kingfish or Spanish mackerel, the two targeted species for the tournament.

Nearshore waters have been a best bet for anglers over the past several days with east winds keeping seas relatively flat. Good catches of hogfish are being brought to the docks for anglers working depths ranging from 40 to 60 feet. A variety of snappers is also being caught, with lane, vermilion and mangrove snappers being the most plentiful.

A few flounder have been caught and released by anglers using shrimp-tipped jigs on some of the artificial reefs off Pinellas. The seasonal closure for flounder ends at midnight Nov. 30.

Passes from Madeira Beach to Pass-A-Grille have been holding some pompano lately. While most local anglers have preferred locally made Doc’s Goofy Jigs for pompano for years, several anglers have had some success using small slow-pitch jigs with good success.

INSHORE

It’s been a mixed bag of what anglers have reported catching recently. Red tide that has been reported for the past several weeks has yet to be shown in bay waters but areas in the Gulf have seen most of the bloom. Recent easterly winds are likely holding the algae bloom out of the bays.

Capt. Scott Moore of Moore Fishing Charters out of Home’s Beach reports plenty of smaller schoolie trout in deeper waters, along with some scattered larger trout being caught in Manatee waters. While many of his clients use live bait, Moore commented that a noisy topwater lure like the 94MR18 MirrOlure Top Dog is an incredibly effective lure this time of year when we have overcast skies with a breeze on the water. I’ll agree wholeheartedly. Another favorite for the current recent conditions is the 5M21 MirrOlure, which is another topwater lure with twin propellers that will churn up the surface, attracting just about anything that swims near them.

Bright sunny days with low water pushes trout, reds, flounder, sheepshead and sometimes snook out off the edges of channels to deeper water. For trout, I love fishing tandem-rigged curly tail jigs, such as the DOA Deadly Tandem. These can be deadly on both speckled and silver trout and at times will result in double hook-ups with two fish at a time. But any of these species will eat these lures.

Redfish have shown up inside some of the bays around oyster bars and in swash channels around mangrove islands. Many of the barrier islands will hold redfish on the northwest facing side of these islands where strong winter winds dig out ruts along the corner of these islands leaving slightly deeper troughs for fish to hold in. Three-inch CAL Shads are a go-to lure along with a gold spoon such as the Eppinger ¼ oz. Rex Spoon, especially where there is floating grass or debris on the surface. Backcountry areas with oyster bars or sand bars during rough weather can be optimal staging areas for redfish looking for some cleaner water to rest in. MirrOlure’s Lil’ John jerk bait rigged on a 1/8 or 1/16 oz. jig head can be irresistible to redfish. Watermelon/ red flake-colored tails are a local favorite. If water color is tinted or turbid, I like the sour lemon color. It’s bright and stands out in murky water.

Water temperature in Tampa Bay was sitting at 79 degrees on Thursday, which is very warm for this time of year. Low 70’s is the norm, with usually encourages more baitfish to leave the flats for deeper nearshore waters, attracting mackerel and kings to the area.

Snook continue to be out on the open flats and on points, and along bars and swash channels. Approaching next Friday’s full moon should make for some great ambush fish opportunities. With a few weeks left in the snook season, the pressure to catch a legal fish may be increasing.

FRESHWATER

Some may not think of crappie fishing until it gets much cooler but if you’re not thinking about it, you’re missing a lot of fish. Capt. Angie Douthit, fishing Lake Okeechobee, has seen some banner catches of speckled perch, a.k.a. crappie, being caught along with some big bass. She says the speck fishing should continue through to next spring.

Locally, Capt. Rick Gross, out of Bradenton and Fishy Business LLC has been making his way to some freshwater lakes in the area and catching some hefty stringers of big crappie. Anglers fishing Lake Manatee are finding a good bite on bass, catfish and crappie. This is a great time to be on the water fishing for these species. Don’t forget your license, catch a bunch and put a few in the cooler for me too. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Oct. 31-Nov. 3 Report

I don’t want to sound the alarm, but we have had varying levels of red tide algae bloom increasing from Fort Myers Beach to Clearwater for the past several weeks. This past week, Boca Grande anglers reported fish kills and south of that, high levels of the bloom were noted in a sample in the area. In the West Central Region, most levels are low or very low, but the presence is enough to pay close attention to concerning fish kills. Several captains reported baitfish dying in live wells.

On another subject, don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday morning.

NEARSHORE/OFFSHORE

Several water samples showed low levels of red tide in waters west to almost 10 miles off Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties were noted at mid-week. Anglers have not reported fish kills in these areas but it’s possible that the bloom could move some fish and a consideration for those bottom fishing to take note.

Despite areas with patchy red tide blooms, there have been several good reports from anglers working depths from 40 to 80 feet catching good numbers of hogfish.

Here we at the first of November, yet very few reports of Spanish mackerel are noted. The Spanish are usually showing up by now and are the forerunners of the kingfish migration south from the Panhandle.

Recreational harvest of greater amberjacks closes Nov. 1. Good numbers of snappers continue to be caught in depths ranging from 60 to 120 feet of water. Mangrove, vermilion, lane, and a few mutton snappers have been in the catch. With breezy conditions recently many anglers have stuck to nearshore waters catching white grunts, hogfish, mangrove and lane snappers for the most part. The occasional cobia has been caught along with a few tripletail around debris that has been found floating in the Gulf.

Next week, Nov. 7-9 the 31st Annual Fall King of the Beach Tournament is scheduled to be held at Pro Marine at Bay Pines, Fla. The change of location was due to the recent hurricanes and issues caused by them. But it is definitely ON! Pro Marine is located at 9293 Bay Pines Blvd, in St. Petersburg. Registration at the venue begins at 5 pm with the captain’s meeting, rules and party to follow.

INSHORE

Opportunities have been all over the charts lately with fishing inshore. Some areas are having fantastic catches of both snook and redfish, while others have seen some big trout moving in. Absent are Spanish mackerel in good numbers that we typically see this time of year, and of course, the kingfish numbers have been pretty slim as well, but it could be that due to sea conditions, anglers may not be getting offshore as far as they might to catch the smoker kings.

Also, somewhat sparse are the populations of flounder in this area. But since the species is closed through the month of November, most anglers are not even considering targeting them for catch-and-release.

Pompano have been where you find them, sort of here today and gone tomorrow, not staying in one location for long. Those anglers who have been lucky enough to find them are catching pomps in the 2- to 4-pound range with most being caught on Doc’s Goofy Jigs.

The upper portion of Tampa Bay seems to be holding some upper and over-slot redfish that have been pretty consistent. Snook have been available as well for anglers tossing live bait.

FRESHWATER

We can’t say that fishing has returned to normal in the lakes and rivers with lake and river levels being so high, but the fishing has been quite good. Capt. Rick Gross who runs Fishy Business Charters out of Bradenton reports anglers having decent catches of early-season speckled perch. That fishery along with bass and freshwater catfish will steadily improve over the coming months. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Oct. 25-27 Report

The aftermath of hurricanes can leave a path of destruction, but in some cases, a silver lining may follow the dark clouds of these storms. Nearly 200 years ago, a pass in Little Sarasota Bay, then called Buccaneer Pass and later renamed Midnight Pass existed.

The pass allowed good flowing water and a thriving area for snook, trout, redfish and many other species. Storms and manmade changes continually moved channels and spoils around the pass creating stability issues for homeowners and ultimately ending up closing the pass.

It has been a controversial issue and due to Hurricane Milton, Mother Nature has reopened the pass, leaving a channel 10 feet deep on high tides and as low as 5 feet on the extreme lows.

The future of Little Sarasota Bay continues to have questions but with these current changes, I would expect big improvements for the near future for the fishing in Little Sarasota Bay but for the long-term, it’s anyone’s guess.

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

The past several weeks have been rough on the charter boat industry because of the hurricanes, the damage they have caused, and the blow to the local economy along our coast. There are many signs in Gulf waters that coastal damage have occurred with so much floating and subsurface debris littering inshore, nearshore and offshore waters. For those who are finally able to get offshore, the nearshore full day trips are producing good catches of hogfish, lane snapper, mangrove snapper, white grunts and some other species, according to Capt. Dylan Hubbard out of Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach. Their 10-hour all day trips are crushing it.

If you are finally able to get on the water, take extra precautions in watching for flotsam and objects just slightly submerged that can damage hulls in a collision. While you’re being extra vigilant, you’ll notice that stone crab traps are now in the water since the reopening of the season on October 15. Not only will the flotsam attract tripletail but also these traps and their floats and lines are attracting marine growth that in turn lure small baitfish and other forage that tripletail and other species will eat. Double-checking every object you see on the water can give you some extra opportunities to put fish in the cooler. Also to note, these traps are nearly always placed on areas of hard bottom, and some of those spots offer only small relief of maybe a foot or so change in depth. These areas are prime for hogfish. Take a lot of shrimp with you if that’s your targeted species, because hogs are known to lack aggressiveness and getting in on a feeding frenzy. They typically will sit back until the majority of the feeding is over and then move in to feed. Going through hundreds of shrimp on a good bite is not uncommon.

INSHORE

Results anglers are having inshore depend on so many different factors right now. Most area waters continue to be stirred up from the hurricanes, but incoming tides can be more productive with cleaner waters coming in from the Gulf around passes along the coast. Very good action with snook has been noted around the passes with snook feeding well during lower light conditions. Pinfish with tails cut to slow swimming speed and exude scent are working well for snook while the DOA Deep Running Baitbuster or DOA TerrorEyz lures are having good hook-ups from artificial bait users.

The upper portion of Tampa Bay has seen pretty good action with redfish chewing up in the upper reaches around Oldsmar. Incoming tides in that area have produced good results.

Areas north of Clearwater from Dunedin to Tarpon Springs have produced good catches of speckled trout for anglers tossing the Berkley Stick Shad or the 17MR MirrOdines from MirrOlure. Early morning topwater action has been good around some of the spoil islands for anglers working walk-the-dog type lurs like the Zara Spook Jr., Berkley Cane Walker 110, and MirrOlure Duke Dog or Top Dog.

Some areas in our northern region from Anclote to Hernando Beach have reported catching some nice flounder. It’s nice to see them as they have not been that prolific in the Tampa Bay area that much in the past several years other than on nearshore reefs. However, a seasonal closure exists for flounder through the end of November for possession.

FRESHWATER

Rivers in Florida continue to be over their normal levels. Downed trees in some cases have restricted the flow of these rivers. But blowdowns along lakes and river banks can create some structure that can be very beneficial to bank anglers. Pitching jigs and soft plastic creature baits or worms can be very productive almost any time of year. If this situation is one you find where you fish, give pitching or flipping a try and see if you don’t hook some lunker bass. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Oct. 4-6 Report

This past week was one for the record books in terms of weather. Hurricane Helene left a wake of destruction and death in multiple states beginning in Florida. While not in the direct path of this Category 4 storm, the West Central Region still was heavily impacted by flooding. It destroyed homes and businesses that will likely take years to repair or replace.

OFFSHORE/NEARSHORE

In the immediate future, there will be a tremendous amount of flotsam in the Gulf and bays, making running in these areas very hazardous. Some objects may float, while others will be slightly submerged or sunken. Make sure you are vigilant while running or traversing all areas. If possible, have another person maintain a watch while running. A second set of eyes could help avert impact with debris in the water. On that note, tripletail love to hang around all kinds of structures. This is an excellent time to rig a couple of rods and slowly approach debris in the water and look for these fish. Sight-fishing for them is not that difficult. Using live shrimp or an artificial shrimp like those from DOA, Berkley, or Savage Gear rigged under a popping cork.

Gulf waters remain stirred up having limited visibility for both humans and fish. This can make it more difficult for fish to find food. Something with some scent, or an artificial lure that gives off flash, vibration, or a combination of these attributes can attract fish in these poor conditions.

Many boat ramps are still closed or have limited open times. Others are damaged. Be sure you find out in advance which ramps are affected. The FWC maintains a website with pages that show boat ramps that are open or closed at https://myfwc.com/boating/boat-ramps-access/.

INSHORE

Inshore fishing has been very difficult at best, and most anglers are still in a clean-up mode from the store. With numerous ramps closed or with limited hours, getting on the water might be difficult right now. Inshore waters are not good at all right now. Many areas have toxic waste that was dumped during the hurricane and storm water runoff from streets has added contaminates to the water. Many areas are unsafe for swimming, so that also means wade fishing without protective waders should be avoided and hand sanitizer should be used if you have contact with the water. Stay tuned to local governmental agencies listing areas that are safe for swimming or wading. This past Wednesday's new moon could help clean up the turbidity in inshore waters. But mostly time will allow settling of the waters.

FRESHWATER

Many lakes, ponds, and rivers are chucked full of debris and objects that can create navigational hazards. Lake levels in most areas will be above normal levels making fishing a tougher sport for finding and catching fish. It might be best to sit it out for a week or so to let things settle before heading to your favorite honey holes. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later!

AMENDMENT 2

In the upcoming Nov. 5th election. Vote yes on Amendment 2, securing your right to hunt and fish.

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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Sep 27-29 Report

Fishing in a hurricane…is not advisable. But if you could get out offshore a couple of days prior to the approach of the storm you might see some banner action if conditions are not too hazardous. At least inshore anglers might have a shot at it before it gets too rough, but wisdom might take over for the offshore guys, and sitting at home watching the grass grow might be a better option. It’s times like this that makes one ask, “to fish, or not to fish.”

OFFSHORE/ NEARSHORE

Leave a float plan!!! Leave a float plan!!! Leave a float plan!!! This makes it much easier to find the bodies and salvage the vessel to sell for parts. It’s always good to check safety equipment out before you leave the dock, especially if the conditions may warrant the use of some of it; you know, flares, PFDs, EPIRB, and those kinds of things. Be sure your PFDs are the right size. It’s the law that these things fit. They can save your life. This weekend may be a tough one to get offshore as the residual effects from the storm brewing in the Gulf and running up toward the Panhandle will churn things up, making it tough for fish to find food. But if you’re a diehard and do happen to make it offshore, in these conditions, making it easier for fish to find your bait is the best bet for catching a few. Fresh-cut dead bait won’t try to elude a fish. Stinky bait like squid added to a cut pinfish, sardine, ladyfish, or threadfin can do some damage and put a few fish in the box. Live shrimp, for some species, are the way to go, and if they don’t get chewed on much, you can always take the hand-picks home for a shrimp cocktail. They are slow-moving, and tasty, especially with cocktail sauce. Just be sure and keep them fresh and alive.

Once this storm passes, be extra careful in keeping an eye out for submerged objects. Portions of docks are known to get ripped out of their normal places and will be found well offshore. Some will be floating, and when you do see flotsam, be sure and approach it slowly, keeping your eyes peeled for tripletail, dolphin, cobia or other species.

INSHORE

Most of us have a few honey holes that are sheltered from high winds and waves, and if they can be reached safely, they may hold some fish that are willing to chew. From my past experiences, paying close attention to the barometer will be the keys to either getting on a bite or getting off the water. A rapidly falling barometer can see a good bite fire up for maybe an hour or so, but much beyond that, the bottom drops out quickly and time will be better spent back at the humble abode kicked back in the easy chair sipping an adult beverage and watching reruns of Bonanza.

Exercising another option that might prove productive could be some land-based fishing. Perhaps donning some waders and working the shallows for a redfish, snook, or some trout is your game. Just remember to wear that belt that comes with your chest-high waders that keeps water from pouring in over the top of your waders when you step into a pothole that’s just a tad bit deeper than you thought. Don't bother thinking about the flesh-eating bacteria that could be in the water. It almost hardly never kills anyone.

Pier fishing is a safe option, and the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers are situated so that you can drive right up to where you can fish and catch fish right outside your passenger side door. This option is especially good when there are line squalls moving onshore where you can jump in the car just as it approaches, and hop back out when it passes, thus avoiding getting your knickers soggy. Of course, docks and seawalls in residential canals can be extremely active for sheepshead, mangrove snapper, flounder, redfish, and perhaps a neighbor’s rottweiler. Regardless of the weather, choose wisely.

FRESHWATER (and lots of it!)

Torrential downpours are expected from tropical weather, and this includes hurricanes. The severity of these weather systems can be best defined by using an ancient mariner’s weather meter, (AMWM). It’s a simple tool to determine the strength of the weather systems you might encounter. In some cases, there can be just as much rain in the sky as there is in the pond you’re fishing, and in such cases, a scuba tank and spear gun may be a better choice than a rod and reel, but the real determination of whether you should head out for the day will come from the AMWM. It’s a simple tool consisting of a piece of hardwood about 12 inches long and 6 inches wide. A peg sits in a hole roughly the diameter of a fat earthworm about 2 inches down from the center of the top of the board, (not the 6 inches you brag about at other times, like when you share a photo of the lunker you caught and your finger is bigger than the fish) which is mounted on a palm tree on the weather side of a building. Attached to the peg is a 10-inch long polypropylene line nailed into the peg at the top of the board and knotted at the base of the line. (Poly won’t absorb water so it’s perfect for this moisture test). On a calm day that might issue no challenge to a real mariner, the knot will be steady at 6 o’clock. If the breeze is freshening and seas are just beginning to look alive, the knot will range between 8 and 4 o’clock. For some, this is about the same as the sun being over the yardarm. New boaters should stay home and watch Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. If you look at the seas and they seem to be getting angry and are spitting foam all over the place, that knot may swing wildly from 10 to 2 o’clock much like a bad pour of beer in a bar and it’s all head. For sure, at least a second thought for casting off the dock should be involved and a check of your man card. By now you’ve reached some severe conditions with a tropical storm. But checking the AMWM one last time and noting that that 12-inch length of poly has disappeared, you’ve finally entered the realm of the twilight zone where things can disappear. They call this a hurricane. Usually they give them feminine names, unless they are checking pronouns, and in that case, just stay home and watch Bill Dance and Roland Martin on TV until the power goes out. In other instances where flooding has occurred, watch for jumping mullet in the street followed by redfish.

Cheers folks, and seriously, take these stormy conditions to heart and stay safe. ‘Til then…I’ll catch ya later.

Capt. Ray Markham
RAY.MARKHAM@GMAIL.COM
(941)228-3474
www.CaptainRayMarkham.com

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